Page 94 of A Wayward Movement

“Benji.”

Alina and Lilah were side by side now, their arms crossed. Benji’s expression as he looked at the pair of them could only be described as cornered.

“Tell us.”

Alina’s curt command didn’t have the effect she expected. Benji’s eyes were hooded as he looked at her, his jaw working.

“I don’t want to tell you, Alina,” he said. “And you don’t want me to, either.”

Alina felt her arms uncross, startled by the shift. “Me specifically?” she asked. “Why not? Please, Benji,” she pressed, as he wavered. “You have to tell me. Being forced to use my imagination would be even worse.”

Benji let out a breath, dropping into a chair with a clear gesture of defeat.

“I was determined not to tell you,” he said. “It was the strangest thing. The guild member seemed almost as disappointed as I was. He was the one who administered the test, and he basically told me at the time that he would push for my acceptance. I think he came to the castle intending to give me good news.”

“So what happened?” Lilah demanded.

Benji shrugged. “I don’t really know. But when I received the message that he’d come, I was so excited I went out to the courtyard to meet him, and I saw him talking to someone else.”

“Who?” Alina demanded.

“Too far away to tell,” said Benji. “But it was someone in a royal guard uniform.”

“And you think this person spoke against your case?” Lilah was frowning, as confused as Alina felt. “But no one in the capital even knows you.”

“Unless it was someone from the investigation team,” Alina pointed out. “We traveled together.”

“I don’t recall Benji making any enemies on that journey,” Lilah protested.

“It’s not me who has enemies,” Benji said quietly. Reluctantly, his eyes moved to Alina. “The guild member’s manner was very strange when we spoke. He seemed stressed. The only thing he really asked me about was my connection to you. It was as though he was trying to get me to say I didn’t really know you, like we’d just met, or our connection was only passing. Obviously I wouldn’t say that. I told him straight that you’d taken in my sister and me two years ago, and I considered you family. He got sort of resigned and told me that unfortunately they couldn’t offer me a position.”

Alina’s pulse was thundering in her ears by the end of this account.

“You…you were barred entrance to the guild because of me?” She could hardly believe it. She didn’t know which consumed her most, guilt or confusion. “I hate that I stood in your way, Benji. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

“Not sorry,” Benji said, scowling at her. “Don’t you dare apologize, Alina. Someone else’s prejudice isn’t your fault. I’d rather never use magic again than disown you after all you’ve done for us.”

“But why was there prejudice at all?” Alina said. “Who would have such a problem with me?”

“I saw plenty of girls who looked ready to stab you every time the prince talked to you,” Lilah said helpfully.

Alina shook her head. “They wouldn’t have influence with the guild.” She frowned. There was one person who seemed wary of her, and he wore a guard’s uniform. “Could it have been Captain Mitchell?” she asked.

Benji squinted in concentration. “Maybe,” he conceded. “His back was to me, and it was all the way across the courtyard. It could have been just about anyone.”

“What problem does Captain Mitchell have with you?” Lilah asked quickly.

“I don’t know.” Alina raised her arms helplessly. “He’s been watching me in a way that makes me uncomfortable for some time now. I assumed it was because he thinks Xavier uses me as a distraction from what he’s supposed to be doing. But it seems extreme for him to sabotage Benji for that reason.”

“Very unlikely,” Lilah agreed.

They talked the matter over in circles for a while longer, but none of them could make sense of it. When Alina eventually retreated to bed, she lay awake for a long time. Between Lilah’s challenge and Benji’s disclosure, her already full mind was ready to overflow.

She rose the next morning feeling unrested and unsettled. Benji had already left for the farm, determined to try out his shearing innovation, and Lilah was about to go downstairs to the shop. Alina had the brief idea of seeking out Xavier, to see if he knew anything that would make sense of Benji’s tale. But then she remembered that he’d gone to the city the day before. He was unlikely to be back already.

The day passed in visits around town, trying to re-establish work wherever it was still available to her. It was almost dark when she finally returned home. The moment she stepped through the door, she could tell something was off.

“What’s wrong?” Alina asked, hurrying to where Lilah stood by the window.